Textbook-Integrated Guide to Educational Resources

TIGER

Molecules and Medicine (E. J. Corey, Barbara Czakó, and László Kürti)Robert E. BuntrockLooking for a book on common drugs and pharmaceuticals? On diseases and medical conditions? On pharmacology? In addition, do you need some background in chemistry to handle all of this information? If you want all of this, and in addition want it under one cover, then this is the book for you.Buntrock, Robert E. J. Chem. Educ.2008, 85, 1495.

The A1c Blood Test: An Illustration of Principles from General and Organic ChemistryRobert C. KerberThe glycated hemoglobin blood test is a key measure of the effectiveness of glucose control in diabetics. The chemistry of glucose in the bloodstream, which underlies the test and its impact, provides an illustration of the importance of chemical equilibrium and kinetics to a major health problem.Kerber, Robert C. . J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 1541.

Nature's Way To Make the LantibioticsHeather A. Relyea and Wilfred A. van der DonkThis article focuses on one class of antimicrobial compounds, the lantibiotics, and discusses their biosynthetic pathways as well as their molecular mode of action. In the course of the review, the meaning of the terms regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity are discussed.Relyea, Heather A.; van der Donk, Wilfred A. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1769.

Amino AcidsWilliam F. ColemanThe Featured Molecules this month are the 20 standard alpha-amino acids found in proteins. The molecules are presented in two formats, the neutral form and the ionized form found in solution at physiologic pH.Coleman, William F. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1103.

Amino Acid Complementarity: A Biochemical Exemplar of Stoichiometry for General and Health Sciences ChemistryEd VitzCalculations demonstrating amino acid complementarity are presented as an interesting application of stoichiometry. Food proteins are said to have complementary amino acids when the proteins combine to provide amino acids in the proper stoichiometric ratios to synthesize human protein. Implications for vegetarian diet, efficiency of food production, and diet adaptations in various cultures are explored briefly. Vitz, Ed. J. Chem. Educ.2005, 82, 1013.

Amino Acids |

Proteins / Peptides |

Stoichiometry |

Food Science

A Supramolecular Approach to Medicinal Chemistry: Medicine Beyond the MoleculeDavid K. SmithThis article emphasizes a conceptual view of medicinal chemistry, which has important implications for the future, as the supramolecular approach to medicinal-chemistry products outlined here is rapidly allowing nanotechnology to converge with medicine. In particular, this article discusses recent developments including the rational design of drugs such as Relenza and Tamiflu, the mode of action of vancomycin, and the mechanism by which bacteria develop resistance, drug delivery using cyclodextrins, and the importance of supramolecular chemistry in understanding protein aggregation diseases such as Alzheimer's and CreutzfieldJacob. Smith, David K. J. Chem. Educ.2005, 82, 393.

Drugs / Pharmaceuticals |

Noncovalent Interactions |

Medicinal Chemistry |

Nanotechnology |

Proteins / Peptides

A Modular Laser Apparatus for Polarimetry, Nephelometry, and Fluorimetry in General ChemistryScott A. Darveau, Jessica Mueller, April Vaverka, Cheri Barta, Anthony Fitch, Jessica Jurzenski, and Yvonne GindtWe present an apparatus suitable for multiple uses in the general chemistry laboratory including polarimetry, fluorescence, and nephelometry. The open design of the instrument also decreases the chance that students will contract the "black-box syndrome" that seems to develop when using instruments that only provide the final data in an experiment without showing how the measurements are obtained. Darveau, Scott A.; Mueller, Jessica; Vaverka, April; Barta, Cheri; Fitch, Anthony; Jurzenski, Jessica; Gindt, Yvonne. J. Chem. Educ.2004, 81, 401.

Fluorescence Spectroscopy |

Kinetics |

Laboratory Equipment / Apparatus |

Lasers |

Spectroscopy |

Proteins / Peptides |

Water / Water Chemistry

A "Polypeptide Demonstrator"Addison AultI have used a telephone Handset Coil Cord as a simple and convenient model for the structure of a polypeptide. Ault, Addison. J. Chem. Educ.2004, 81, 196.

Factors Affecting Reaction Kinetics of Glucose OxidaseKristin A. JohnsonDemonstration based on a biochemical kinetics experiment in which the rate of reaction varies with the enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, substrate used in the reaction, and temperature. Johnson, Kristin A. J. Chem. Educ.2002, 79, 74.

A Simple Protein Purification and Folding Experiment for General Chemistry LaboratoryRobert Bowen, Richard Hartung, and Yvonne M. GindtA simple procedure for the crude purification of a chromoprotein suitable for a general chemistry laboratory. The protein, phycocyanin, is easy to purify and very stable. It contains a chromophore that can serve to report the integrity of the protein structure: the chromoprotein is dark blue when the protein is folded in its native conformation, and it turns a very pale blue when the protein is unfolded or denatured. Bowen, Robert ; Hartung, Richard; Gindt, Yvonne M. J. Chem. Educ.2000, 77, 1456.

Noncovalent Interactions |

Photochemistry |

Proteins / Peptides |

UV-Vis Spectroscopy

A Simple Method for Demonstrating Enzyme Kinetics Using Catalase from Beef Liver ExtractKristin A. JohnsonA simple visual method of demonstrating enzyme kinetics using beef liver catalase. Filter paper is saturated with beef liver extract and placed into a solution of hydrogen peroxide. The catalase in the extract decomposes the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Oxygen forms on the filter paper, and the filter paper rises to the top of the beaker. Catalase activity is measured by timing the rise of the enzyme-soaked filter paper to the top of beakers containing different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Johnson, A. Kristin. J. Chem. Educ.2000, 77, 1451.

Enzymes |

Kinetics |

Proteins / Peptides |

Reactions

Soup or Salad? Investigating the Action of Enzymes in Fruit on GelatinErica JacobsenSome fruits contain proteases, a group of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of peptide linkages in proteins. This can have an undesired effect in a gelatin salad containing fruit, because proteases in the fruit can cleave the proteins that make up the structure of gelatin so that it will not set.Jacobsen, Erica. J. Chem. Educ.1999, 76, 624A.

Enzymes |

Proteins / Peptides

Analysis of Iron in Ferritin, the Iron-Storage Protein: A General Chemistry ExperimentMaureen J. Donlin, Regina F. Frey, Christopher Putnam, Jody Proctor, and James K. BashkinThe chemical properties of the iron-storage protein ferritin will be examined in this experiment by quantitating the average amount of iron in a ferritin sample, and observing the kinetics of iron release from the protein core under reducing conditions. Students learn and apply the principles of absorption spectroscopy, redox reactions, and metal chelation to study ferritin. Maureen J. Donlin, Regina F. Frey, Christopher Putnam, Jody Proctor, and James K. Bashkin. J. Chem. Educ.1998, 75, 437.

Oxidation / Reduction |

UV-Vis Spectroscopy |

Proteins / Peptides

Showing Food Foams Properties with Common Dairy FoodsCarlos Bravo-Diaz and Elisa Gonzalez-RomeroSome easy to carry, inexpensive and safe experiments developed using familiar kitchen materials related with egg foams. Eggs's properties are not only limited to prepare excellent and delicious emulsions like mayonnaise but also makes excellent foams, increasing their volume significantly in two primary ways.Bravo-Diaz, Carlos; Gonzalez-Romero, Elisa. J. Chem. Educ.1997, 74, 1133.

Learning Theories |

Food Science |

Proteins / Peptides |

Applications of Chemistry

A Simulated Growth Hormone AnalysisMary HarrisGrowth hormone is a drug that is sometimes abused by amateur or professional athletes for performance-enhancement. This laboratory is a semi-microscale simulation analysis of a sample of "urine" to detect proteins of two very different molecular weights.Harris, Mary. J. Chem. Educ.1996, 73, 735.

Analogical demonstrations Fortman, John J.By illustrating an analogy with a visual demonstration, a student is aided in both understanding and remembering a lesson.Fortman, John J. J. Chem. Educ.1992, 69, 323.

IsoenzymesDaugherty, N. A.The separation, identification, and measurement of isoenzymes is an appropriate topic for a special lecture in general chemistry.Daugherty, N. A. J. Chem. Educ.1979, 56, 442.

Enzymes |

Proteins / Peptides |

pH |

Electrophoresis |

Separation Science |

Electrochemistry |

Applications of Chemistry

Compact CompactsHuebner, Jay S.; Shiflett, R. B.; Blanck, Harvey F.A collection of three suggestions regarding demonstrating the oxidation of hydrocarbons and the primary, secondary, and tertiary structure of proteins and the first law of thermodynamics as applied to air conditioning.Huebner, Jay S.; Shiflett, R. B.; Blanck, Harvey F. J. Chem. Educ.1979, 56, 389.

Oxidation / Reduction |

Alkanes / Cycloalkanes |

Molecular Properties / Structure |

Proteins / Peptides |

Thermodynamics

Compact compactNelson, Gregory V.Using a cardboard mailing tube to demonstrate the rigidity of the folding pattern and the flexibility of a non-helical region in a protein.Nelson, Gregory V. J. Chem. Educ.1977, 54, 578.

Amino acid sequence diversity in proteinsBlackman, DavidThe number of unique proteins that can be generated from a small number of amino acids is truly enormous.Blackman, David J. Chem. Educ.1977, 54, 170.

The use of talc as a tlc adsorbentWalsh, Brother Joseph M.Describes the use of talc as a thin layer chromatography adsorbent, particularly with respect to the separation of flavonoids, sugars, and proteins.Walsh, Brother Joseph M. J. Chem. Educ.1967, 44, 294.

Thin Layer Chromatography |

Chromatography |

Separation Science |

Proteins / Peptides |

Carbohydrates

VI - Biochemistry in the introductory college chemistry courseSturtevant, Julian M.To whatever extent one wishes in the introductory chemistry course to stimulate students' interest in the subject, it seems important to include illustrations of the role chemical progress plays in biology.Sturtevant, Julian M. J. Chem. Educ.1967, 44, 184.

Enzymes |

Proteins / Peptides |

Bioenergetics

Ribonucleic acid: The simplest information-transmitting moleculeFraenkel-Conrat, H.Examines the chemical structure of nucleic acids, chemical modification of RNA and mutagenesis, role of RNA in protein structure, the mechanism of information transfer from RNA to protein, and mutants and coding.Fraenkel-Conrat, H. J. Chem. Educ.1963, 40, 216.

Proteins / Peptides

Student experiment with filter paper electrophoresisGarvin, James E.The effect of electrical charge in determining some of the properties of amino acids and proteins can be simply and convincingly demonstrated to the student by means of filter paper electrophoresis.Garvin, James E. J. Chem. Educ.1961, 38, 36.

Potentialities of protein isomerismAsimov, IsaacThe permutations generated by structural isomerism in proteins could be demonstrated more convincingly and realistically if the amino acid compositions of actual proteins were taken into consideration.Asimov, Isaac J. Chem. Educ.1954, 31, 125.